NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Ariana Grande said that she credits Mac Miller with helping her find her sound\u00a0during the early days of her career<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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The two first collaborated on the singer\u2019s 2013 breakthrough hit \u201cThe Way,\u201d a pop song with R&B undertones<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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Miller died in 2018 of an accidental overdose at the age of 26<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Arianators have Mac Miller<\/a> to thank for Ariana Grande<\/a>\u2019s pop-R&B sound.<\/p>\nDuring her master class at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., the pop superstar opened up about the late rapper\u2019s influence on her music at the start of her career in conversation with The Hollywood Reporter for the outlet\u2019s Awards Chatter podcast.<\/p>\n
In footage from the conversation shared on TikTok, Grande, 32, noted that Miller, whose real name is Malcolm James McCormick, paved the way for her to make R&B-inspired pop music and \u201cdo the brave thing.\u201d Grande added that she\u2019s \u201cvery grateful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pair collaborated on the singer\u2019s breakout single, \u201cThe Way,\u201d featured in her debut album Yours Truly. The 2013 hit peaked at No. 9 on Billboard\u2019s Hot 100, earning both artists their first top-ten song on the chart.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s also a part of why I was so eager to ask [Miller] to be a part of it,\u201d Grande said. \u201cNot only because he was perfect for the song, but I also felt like I had him to thank for finding my sound.\u201d<\/p>\n
Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe pair collaborated on Miller’s “My Favorite Part” as well as a remix of Grande’s “Into You,” both released in 2016.<\/p>\n
Though it\u2019s been 12 years since the release of \u201cThe Way,\u201d Grande has stayed true to the sound of her start, releasing seven studio albums, all blending pop and R&B seamlessly.<\/p>\n
![\"GC](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/rIb7Lf_Fj.GF3I3eWQswAg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTY0ODtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/b479a64e6717d84a31066a16e70ff653\"\/)
<\/div>\n\nGC Images<\/p>\n
Mac Miller and Ariana Grande in 2018<\/p><\/div>\n
Grande and Miller first went public with their relationship in September 2016, three years after the release of their hit song. The pair broke up<\/a> in April 2018, after two years together.<\/p>\nMiller died of an accidental overdose<\/a> of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol at the age of 26 on Sept. 7, 2018.<\/p>\nSince his death, Grande has paid tribute to the \u201cCircles\u201d rapper time and time again. From playing Miller\u2019s songs before her concerts<\/a> on the Sweetener tour, to singing, \u201cWish I could say \u2018thank you\u2019 to Malcom, \u2018cause he was an angel,\u201d in \u201cthank u, next,\u201d Grande continues to keep his memory alive.<\/p>\nOn the 10th anniversary of the love song, Grande honored Miller in a sweet message<\/a> posted on social media. When a fan shared a celebratory post of a clip from \u201cThe Way\u201d music video on Instagram, Grande wrote: \u201cI love you.\u201d She then shared the post and message on her Instagram Stories.<\/p>\n
Ariana Grande said that she credits Mac Miller with helping her find her sound\u00a0during the early days of her career<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
The two first collaborated on the singer\u2019s 2013 breakthrough hit \u201cThe Way,\u201d a pop song with R&B undertones<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
Miller died in 2018 of an accidental overdose at the age of 26<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Arianators have Mac Miller<\/a> to thank for Ariana Grande<\/a>\u2019s pop-R&B sound.<\/p>\n During her master class at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., the pop superstar opened up about the late rapper\u2019s influence on her music at the start of her career in conversation with The Hollywood Reporter for the outlet\u2019s Awards Chatter podcast.<\/p>\n In footage from the conversation shared on TikTok, Grande, 32, noted that Miller, whose real name is Malcolm James McCormick, paved the way for her to make R&B-inspired pop music and \u201cdo the brave thing.\u201d Grande added that she\u2019s \u201cvery grateful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n The pair collaborated on the singer\u2019s breakout single, \u201cThe Way,\u201d featured in her debut album Yours Truly. The 2013 hit peaked at No. 9 on Billboard\u2019s Hot 100, earning both artists their first top-ten song on the chart.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s also a part of why I was so eager to ask [Miller] to be a part of it,\u201d Grande said. \u201cNot only because he was perfect for the song, but I also felt like I had him to thank for finding my sound.\u201d<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n The pair collaborated on Miller’s “My Favorite Part” as well as a remix of Grande’s “Into You,” both released in 2016.<\/p>\n Though it\u2019s been 12 years since the release of \u201cThe Way,\u201d Grande has stayed true to the sound of her start, releasing seven studio albums, all blending pop and R&B seamlessly.<\/p>\n GC Images<\/p>\n Mac Miller and Ariana Grande in 2018<\/p><\/div>\n Grande and Miller first went public with their relationship in September 2016, three years after the release of their hit song. The pair broke up<\/a> in April 2018, after two years together.<\/p>\n Miller died of an accidental overdose<\/a> of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol at the age of 26 on Sept. 7, 2018.<\/p>\n Since his death, Grande has paid tribute to the \u201cCircles\u201d rapper time and time again. From playing Miller\u2019s songs before her concerts<\/a> on the Sweetener tour, to singing, \u201cWish I could say \u2018thank you\u2019 to Malcom, \u2018cause he was an angel,\u201d in \u201cthank u, next,\u201d Grande continues to keep his memory alive.<\/p>\n On the 10th anniversary of the love song, Grande honored Miller in a sweet message<\/a> posted on social media. When a fan shared a celebratory post of a clip from \u201cThe Way\u201d music video on Instagram, Grande wrote: \u201cI love you.\u201d She then shared the post and message on her Instagram Stories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n